Chain.



No. 736,904. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903. F. R. WILLSON, JR. CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

Snvemtoz ihemmzmmfi UNITED STATES Patented August 18, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

FREEMAN R. WILLSON, JR, OF COLUMBUS, OHIOpASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS-SIGNMENTS, TO JOSEPH A. JEFFREY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fat/silt No. 736,904, dated August18, 1903. Application filed February 20, 1901- Serial No. 48,141. (Nomodel.)

To Mr? whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREEMAN R. WILLSON, J r., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chains, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein tothe accompanying drawings.

zontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of a Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is avertical sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is aperspective view of one of the wearing blocks or pieces detached. Fig. 7is a perspective view of one of the parts of the wearing-block shown inFig. 6. Fig. 8 shows in side elevation a bar of metal to be formed intoone of the flat links. Fig. 9 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 10 showsa bar in finished form. Fig. 11 is a plan View of one of the wrought orround bars.

In the drawings, A represents a wrought 3 5 metal link, preferably ofsubstantially elliptical form and formed of a bar round in crosssectionand welded into a continuous piece. Links of this well-known formpossessgreat strength, and for that reason it is desirable to use themin the formation of drive or power-transmitting chains. It is, however,dilficult to construct a chain embodying links of this character whichpossesses the features which characterize a successful drive- 5 chain.

It is one of the objects of my invention to so construct the coupling.or intermediate links which alternate with the wrought links A and unitethem as to form a drive-chain which shall possess great strength, be ofsimple construction, and be adapted to a great variety of uses. Theintermediate or coupling links are formed of side bars 13,wearing-blocks situated between the side bars and at the ends thereof,with which the wrought links A engage, and connectingpins O,which unitethe opposite side bars and the wearing blocks or pieces D. I prefer thatthe side bars 13 shouldbe formed of fiat bar metal.

In Fig. 8 the steps followed in the formation of the side bars areillustrated. A strip or bar of metal B of suitable size in crossdimensions and of a length suiiicient to make a number of side bars B ispresented to a suitablecuttingandpunchingmachine,which severs the bar,as represented at b, forming pieces of proper length and at the sametime punches the holes 0 for the passage of the bolts 0. These piecesare next formed by suitable dies or presses into the shape repre- 7osented in the lower part of Fig. 8, the ends of the bar being bentinward, as represented at b.

I prefer that the wearing-block should be formed of cast metal. the endportions of the opposite side bars B and has its opposite sidechanneled, as represented at d, to receive the ends of the opposite sidebars B. It is perforated at d, and

when the side bars and wearing-block are v properly assembled theapertures c in the former'register with the aperture 01 in thewearing-block and permits the bolt or connecting-pin C to pass throughand unite these parts. The pin is formed at one end with a head 0, and Iprefer that the opposite end should be upset or headed when the partsare assembled, so that it becomes a rivet permanently uniting the partsin the manner represented in Fig. 4. It will be understood that othermeans for securing the bolt or pin C in position to unite the side barsand the wearing-b1ock might be used in lieu of'the method described; butI prefer that the parts should be riveted together as illustrated andset 5 forth.

The wearing piece or block is provided at its center or middle portionwith a curved groove (1, in which lies the end of one of the wroughtlinks A.

It is situated between 75 I prefer that the wearing piece or block Dshould be formed of two parts, as represented in Figs. 4:, 6, and 7;butit will be understood that it might be made of a single and integralpiece of metal, if desired.

It will be seen that while the coupling or intermediate linkis formed ofseveral pieces, which are each exceedin g1 ysimple in construction whenits elements are assembled, there is formed a structure possessingpractically the strength and rigidity of an integral element.

The channels or recesses (1 formed in the sides of the wearing-blocksare of such shape and depth that the ends of the side bars arepractically fiush with the side faces of the wearing-blocks when theparts are assembled. The engagement of the curved ends I) of the sidebars with the wearing-blocks andof the shoulders of the wearing-blockson either side of the channels (1 with the edges of the side barsprevents any looseness or movement of the parts relative to each othereven should the connecting-pins become worn or loose.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the openings for thesprocket-teeth are formed in the intermediate or connecting links, thatthese openings are substantially rectangular in shape, and that thesprocketteeth engage with the wearing blocks D and do not contact withthe wrought links A at all. This leaves the links perfectly free toarticulate in the plane of the wheel. The construction of the chain issuch that it is rigid or stiff to a very considerable degree in aplauetransverse to the plane of the sprocketwheels.

While a chain such as I have shown and described may be used inconnection with many different forms of sprocket-wheels having solidteeth, I prefer to use in connection therewith the form ofsprocket-wheel F illustrated in Fig. 1 and having the teeth adjustableradially. Inasmuch as the novel features of construction incident tothis wheel are to be claimed in another application, it is not necessaryto describe it here in detail, it being sufficient to note thatitisformed with a hub E, teeth H, each carried by a plate I, which can beadjusted by a bolt M, bearing against a hub and engaged with a lug onthe plate, audeach plate being fastened after adjustment by bolts at Kin slots Each plate has a flange at N for receiving the chainlinks.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the wrought links A, ofa connectingorintermediate link formed of separate side bars, wearing-blocks for thewrought links arranged between the ends of the side bars, andconnecting-bolts each passing through the opposite side bars and awearing-block and uniting them, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the wrought metal vsaeoa 3. The combination withthe wrought links A, of a coupling or connecting link comprisingopposite side bars, wearing-pieces with which the wrought links engagearranged between the ends of the side bars and having interlockingengagement therewith, whereby the side bars and wearing-blocks are heldin rigid relation to each other, and connectingbolts which pass throughthe oppositeside bars and unite them, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the wrought links, of a coupling or connectinglink which unites them consisting of separate side bars, thewearing-pieces formed with channels in their outer faces in which theends of the side bars are adapted to rest, and with grooves in which thewrought links lie, and cross-connecting bolts arranged to pass throughthe side bars and the wearing-pieces and unite them, substantially asset forth.

5. The combination with the wrought links A, of the coupling orconnecting link formed of the flat side bars, B, B, having the bent ends6, the wearing-pieces arranged between the ends of the side bars andhaving channels d in which the ends of the side bars are seated, andgrooves d for the wrought links, and the connecting pins or bolts 0which pass through the side bars and the wearing-pieces and unite them,substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the wrought links, of the intermediate orcoupling link having the side bars, the wearing-pieces D for the wroughtlinks each formed of two parts, and the connecting bolts or pins whichpass through the side bars and the wearing-blocks and unite them,substantially as set forth.

7. A power-transmitting chain comprising a series of wrought linksarranged in the central axial plane of the chain, a series ofintermediate coupling-links arranged between the wrought links anduniting them, wearingblocks with which the wrought links have articulateengagement and means for rigidly connecting the blocks with theintermediate links whereby longitudinal movement of the blocks relativeto the intermediate links is prevented, substantially as set forth.

8. A power-transmitting chain comprising a series of wrought linksintermediate links connecting the wrought links having separate sidebars, wearing-blocks arranged between the side bars of the intermediatelinks with which the wrought links have articulate engagement and meansfor uniting the opposite side bars and for holding the wearingblocksrigidly relative thereto, substantially Wearing-pieces for the roundbar-links, sulbas set forth. stantially as set forth. :0

9. A chain comprised of alternately-ar- In testimony whereof I affix mysignature ranged round bar links and intermediate in presence of twoWitnesses. 5 links having opposite side bars formed of flat v FREEMAN R.WILLSON, JR.

bar metal and means arranged between the Witnesses: side bars of suchintermediate links for prop- G. O. HORST,

erly spacing them and also for serving as E N. G. KINGSBURY.

